And for the first time in five years—
I smiled.
“They always were.”
The world seemed to tilt.
Emotion flooded his face—shock, recognition, something deeper.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked quietly.
“Because your family decided I wasn’t enough,” I replied. “And you chose to believe them.”
The truth landed hard.
Something changed in him.
He turned to his bride.
The perfect wedding—the image, the power, the future—it all suddenly felt hollow.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She stared at him. “You’re cancelling this… because of her?”
He shook his head.
“No. I’m cancelling it… because of them.”
He looked at the children.